International Bureau of Weights and Measures is an international organization that standardizes units of measure. About 55 countries belong to the bureau, including the United States and Canada. The bureau is also known by its French name, the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures. It sets standards for metric measurements and ensures worldwide unification of physical measurements. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures was founded in Paris in 1875. Headquarters are at Sevres, near Paris.
